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2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. M. DODGE.

LUBRIGATING DEVICE FOR GONVEYERS. No. 579,385.

Witnesses: flQ'EZ-Mw 26540. A). M

(-No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' J. M. DODGE.

LUBRIGATING DEVICE FOR UONVEYBBS.

No. 579,385. Patented Mar. 23, 1897,

Invent-07":

\ Jam/es/I [mafye by fizisflt/ -ormeya wire Srnrns JAMES M. DODGE, OF PHILADELPHIA,

fnrnnr PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE LINK-BELT ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,385, dated March 23, 1897..

Application filed July 31, 1896.

To aZZ w/wm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES M. DODGE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Lubricating Devices for Oonveyers, of which the following is a specilication.

The object of my invention is to lubricate the axles of the supporting-wheels of conveyers by providing means whereby oil can be picked up and applied to the axle of each wheel at a certain point during the travel of the conveyer, as fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of one form of conveyor embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing part of the conveyor with its supportingavheels, and also a rail structure combined with a reservoir for lubricant. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 3 3, F1 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4 4, Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a side viewof a supportingwheel with its oil scoops or clippers, and Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a modification of the invention.

While my invention is especially adapted to endless-chain conveyers which are provided with carrying-wheels running upon tracks, it will be understood that it can be applied to any conveyer whether of the endlesschain type or the independent trolley or car type.

A is a section of the track on which travel the wheels 13, these wheels being flanged in the present instance and mounted on axles B, which carry the endless chains and conveyer-buckets, the wheels being hollow, so as to retain a certain amount of liquid lubricant. Projecting from one side of each wheel are curved scoops or (lippers 1), two on each wheel in the present instance, although but a single scoop on each wheel may be used, if desired. Each scoop has a stem Z2, which enters an opening in the wheel and has a slot therein, so that as the wheel rotates in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5, the scoops can pick up oil from a suitably-located rese1'voir,'wl1ich oil will be discharged into the cavity of the wheel.

In order to firmly attach the scoops to the Serial No. 601,201. (No model.)

wheel, I tap a hole'in the end of the stem of each scoop and pass a bolt (Z through an opening in the wheel and into the screw-threaded opening in the said stem, so that by tightenin g this bolt the scoops can be secured to the wheel, a shoulder 11 on the stern bearing against the face of the wheel and serving to prevent rotation of said stem, and also to close the opening in the wheel, so as to prevent escape of oil therefrom.

I) is a trough which in the present instance is cast in one piece with the track-section A, the inside flange f of this trough being carried upward to as high a point as permitted by the scoops on the wheels, as shown in Fig. 4. 1

It will be noticed on reference to Fig. 3 that the upper face of the rail-section A on which the wheels B travel is lower at the center than at the ends, the said upper face being on the same plane-as the connectingrail at each end, but in order to enable the scoops to enter the trough this face is depressed at and near the longitudinal center of the trough, so that as the conveyer passes over the trough the scoops will enter the lubricant and convey a certain amount of the same into the body of each wheel, it being understood that the conveyer runs so slowly that there will be no discharge of oil due to centrifugal action.

I preferably form a lip g on the trough, so that it can be charged with lubricant, and I also provide a cock h, through which all of the lubricant can be drawn off from the trough.

It will be seen that by my invention I am enabled to automatically charge each wheel with lubricating material, the attendant simply keeping the trough filled with lubricant. 0

The rail-section A has base-flanges i,wl1ereby it is secured to its supports, the end flanges also serving to support the ends of the abutting rails, and at each end of said section A are lugs m, between which the web of said abutting rail fits. The troughmay, however,

be bolted to an ordinary rail which is bent to form the depression, the essential feature of the invention being the depression of the track at a certain point to permit the scoops on the wheel to pick up a certain amount of lubricant and convey it to the bearings.

The wheels may have scoops on each side to dip into troughs on each side of the track, and, if desired, the trough may extend throughout the entire lower run of the conveyer, as shown in Fig. 6, the construction shown in Figs. 2 to 4, however, being pre ferred.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of a traveling wheel, having a scoop communicating with its bearing, a rail over which the wheel travels, and a fixed trough for lubricating material so arranged in respect to the rail that as the wheel traverses the rail its scoop will enter the trough and will pick up lubricant therefrom, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a rail having a depression, a trough at the side of the rail, a wheel, an axle therefor and a scoop on the wheel whereby when the wheel runs upon the depressed rail the scoop will pick up lubricant from the trough, substantially as described. I

3. The combination of the rail having a depression therein, the trough at one side of the rail, a chambered wheel, an axle therefor, and a scoop communicating with the chamber of the wheel and adapted to pick up lubricant from the trough as the wheel passes the same, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the rail-section having a depressed face over which the wheel travels, with a trough for lubricant formed integral with said rail-section and located at the side of the same, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a depressed rail, a

trough adjacent thereto, a chambered wheel,.

an axle therefor, a scoop projecting from one side of the wheel and having a stem extending into the chamber of the Wheel, and a bolt adapted to hold the scoop in position on the wheel, substantially as described.

6. The combination of an endless-chain conveyer having axles, wheels on said axles, a scoop on each wheel, and a trough over which the conveyer passes and into which the scoop extends in passing so as to pick up lubricant therefrom, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. DODGE.

\Vitnesses:

WILL. A. BARR, J os. I-I. KLEIN. 

